Hello everyone, this is my first review, so please forgive me if I make any mistakes. I am still an amateur.

- Today, I will share my experience exploring Rattanakosin Island. -

As a student from the countryside, after graduating, fate led me to live in the capital city. I have always wanted to explore Rattanakosin Island (walking in a circle around the island), but I have never been able to complete the entire circuit. This time, I had the opportunity to meet up with my high school friends and finally explore the island together.


My name is "Tatar" (wearing black). I have many names, haha, but I like the name "India" the most because it's a strange way to call my last name. My Trip Buddy's name is "Saisai", but most people call him "Khanom Sod" because it sounds more homely.

Let's get into travel mode, shall we?

For this trip, I have a single map and Google Maps to guide me.

I left my accommodation at around 7:00 AM on Friday near Wat Phra Sri Mahathat (Bang Khen). I had an appointment with a friend at Victory Monument.

- I took bus number 522 for 19 baht to Victory Monument. I chose bus number 522 because it takes the expressway, so the traffic wouldn't be bad since it was a workday. If you don't want to take bus number 522, you can take bus number 503. It costs less than 20 baht and goes directly to Sanam Luang.

Xxxx At Victory Monument, my friend and I refueled with chicken rice at the Ko Phaya Thai intersection for 40 baht. The taste was very ordinary. 55555 (We started with eating)


- After we were full, we set off. -

We took bus number 503 from the Ko Phaya Thai side to our first destination. The places we visited are listed below in the order we went to them.

1. Wat Benchamabophit Dusit Wanaram Ratchawaramahawihan



Wat Benchamabophit Dusit Wanaram Ratchawaramahawihan is a first-class royal temple, a type of Ratchawaramahawihan. The ordination hall is featured on the back of the five-baht coin. Upon entering the ordination hall, one will find that this temple deviates from the ancient royal tradition of depicting stories related to Traiphum, the life of the Buddha, and Jataka tales. The paintings on the eight niches of the walls depict the "Great Pagodas" of Siam, all eight of them.



After admiring the beauty of Wat Benchamabophit, my friend and I crossed the street to head towards the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn.

"Let's take some photos in a foreign style," my friend suggested.

2. Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn


The Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) is located on the Royal Plaza in front of Dusit Palace in Bangkok. The statue is made of bronze and mounted on a bronze pedestal depicting a horse. It was funded by public donations, and the remaining funds were used by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) to establish Chulalongkorn University.


We then walked straight to the back of the equestrian statue to visit the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, which was not far away.

3. Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall

The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, originally used for various royal and state ceremonies, once served as the meeting place for the Parliament. After the Parliament moved to a new building, the rear of the Throne Hall now houses the Sirikit Institute's permanent exhibition, "Art of the Land," a must-see destination for appreciating its beauty (entrance fee 150 baht).

4. The Bormmangalanusorn Pavilion


The Bhumibol Adulyadej Memorial Pavilion, located within the same compound as the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, is the tallest pavilion in the history of Thai art. It represents the loyalty and unity of all the artisans who created this architectural masterpiece. The pavilion blends architectural styles from different eras, including Ayutthaya and early-to-mid-Rattanakosin periods. Every piece of work was created to honor His Majesty the King and the Royal Family, as well as to allow the public to appreciate the beauty of this pavilion.

After admiring the beauty of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and the Borommangalanusorn Monument, we took bus number 70 to Sanam Luang, which took about 15-20 minutes (boarding at Dusit Zoo bus stop).

- I have been here many times before, so my friend and I took a shortcut to Tha Maharaj through the gate of Wat Mahathat and stopped to buy a Coke to quench our thirst, which we considered as making merit. Soon after, we arrived at Tha Maharaj. -

If you haven't taken a picture here, you might as well not have come.


After taking a photo at 11:40 AM, we took a ferry across the Chao Phraya River from Maharaj Pier to Wang Lang Pier. The fare is now 3.50 baht, an increase of 50 satang. (The Wang Lang Pier has been renovated and looks very good.) We had lunch at the Oratai Sushi Wang Lang restaurant. The food was good for the price, but the place was crowded.


After a satisfying meal, we took a ferry from Wang Lang Pier to Tha Chang Pier and strolled towards the Grand Palace.




- As you walk straight from Tha Chang Pier, you will encounter a captivating building with an inexplicable charm. It was impossible to resist taking a few photos. -



Let's continue our journey in tourist mode after we've had our fill of food.

5. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, or Wat Phra Kaew


Today, Xxxx entered Wat Phra Kaew through the Wises Chaisri Gate, which is usually used by the Royal Palace for the public to pay their respects to the body of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. However, today, I and my friends were very lucky to be able to enter Wat Phra Kaew through this gate.



The entrance to Wat Phra Kaew has two lanes: one for foreign tourists (ticket required) and one for Thai citizens and tour guides (free).



The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, or Wat Phra Kaew, houses the Emerald Buddha. King Rama I commissioned its construction alongside the Grand Palace and the city of Rattanakosin, following the tradition of building a temple within the palace grounds, as seen in Wat Phra Si Sanphet of Ayutthaya. Located in the outer precinct of the Grand Palace's eastern side, the temple is surrounded by a cloister. As a royal temple, it does not house any resident monks.








The Phra Wihan Yot houses the Phra Nak statue. The structure is adorned with silver-glazed tiles, reflecting the artistic preferences of King Rama III.


The Phra Nak Hall is a repository for unclaimed cremated remains and urns located within the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Grand Palace.




Twelve giant statues, each a pair of protagonists from the Ramayana epic, stand guard at the entrance of the Phra Ubosot at Wat Phra Kaew. These stucco figures, adorned with tiles and mirrors, stand with their clubs at the ready, guarding the various doors around the Phra Ubosot.



The Golden Pagoda, also known as Phra Sri Rattana Chedi, is a stunning golden structure inspired by the Phra Sri Sanphet Chedi of the Ayutthaya period. It houses sacred relics of the Buddha.

- In summary, this temple is exceptionally beautiful, valuable, and a source of pride for Siam. The intricate artistry exemplifies the magnificence of Thai art. Visiting this temple is a truly blessed experience. -


***After admiring the beauty of Wat Phra Kaew, my friend and I continued our journey to Wat Pho, exiting through the Sawasdi Sopha Gate opposite the Ministry of Defence. Then turn left, please note.** If you get lost in Wat Phra Kaew, you can ask the staff for directions, as my friend and I did. 555





On the way to Wat Pho, we will pass the equestrian statue of King Rama IV in front of Saranrom Palace.

6. Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is a royal temple of the first class and served as the temple of King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty.

It was also considered the first university in the country, as it housed inscriptions on various branches of knowledge. UNESCO has registered 1,440 inscriptions from Wat Pho as part of the Memory of the World Register for the Asia-Pacific region.



The Reclining Buddha (Phra Saiyas), the third largest Buddha statue in Thailand, is adorned with 108 auspicious symbols in mother-of-pearl on its soles.



The Great Four Reigns Pagoda is a complex of four large pagodas. The pagodas are of the "yord mar sib song" style, decorated with glazed tiles. They represent the reigns of Kings Rama I to IV.


Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchawaramahawihan is considered the temple with the most pagodas in Thailand, with approximately 99 structures.

After exploring until we were tired, we bought a Coke in front of Wat Pho. It was truly refreshing! The price was 25 baht per glass for Thai people and 30 baht for foreigners. Luckily, we're Thai! 5555

Next, we opened Google Maps to walk to the Giant Swing. Since a motorbike taxi ride cost 60 baht per person, my friend and I decided not to take it. The shuttle bus was also very slow, so we looked at each other and agreed to walk instead...

7. The Giant Swing


After finishing at the swing, I followed Google Maps to a dessert shop called "Chheng Sim Iee". Let me tell you, this shop has a huge variety of menus and toppings.


The menu starts at 30 baht.








Today I tried the "Khanun Sa Harip Tim Phrao" menu, it was delicious. The coconut milk wasn't too sweet, the water chestnuts were crispy, the jackfruit was very fragrant, and the "Sa Harip" noodles were chewy. After a long walk in the hot weather, this really hit the spot. ****Most importantly, the water is free!

Xxxx After eating dessert, we continued to the "Mon Nom Sod" shop, where many celebrities have come to try the delicious toast and various flavors of fresh milk.




After we were full, we continued walking. This time, we just followed the directions without asking any questions. I had to turn to my friend and ask, "Are you okay? My legs are killing me." 555

8. Wat Ratchanadda Ram Worawihan, or "Wat Ratchanadda"



The temple houses the only metal castle in Thailand and the only one in the world.


9. Phlap Phla Maha Jesada Bodin Throne Square





10. Mahakan Fort



The Mahakan Fort houses vintage buildings that are perfect for photography. However, during my visit with my friends, we did not climb the fort to take pictures.







11. Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan


Wat Srakesa Royal Waramahawihan is a second-class royal temple, a royal Waramahawihan. It is an ancient temple from the Ayutthaya period. The temple is in the shape of a mountain.





- From the top of the Golden Mount, you can see a panoramic view of Bangkok. -


After that, I was tired and my legs were sore, but I continued walking to take my dear friend to eat the famous Pad Thai at Pratu Phee. We walked out of Wat Phukhao Thong and opened Google Maps for a bit, then continued walking.

- When we arrived at the restaurant, my friend and I were surprised to see a long queue of people waiting. But we didn't mind, and after a while, a staff member took us to a table.

- The price was reasonable, as shown on the menu below.

- The taste was not much different from other places (in my opinion), but the atmosphere was good.

- A wide variety of menus to choose from -





After a satisfying meal, we continued our journey to the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, arriving at 6:40 PM. As the museum closed at 7:00 PM, we were unable to explore the exhibits. However, we enjoyed the cool air conditioning and used the restrooms before departing. We then decided to part ways.

We waited for the bus number 503 at the Democracy Monument to return to our accommodation.

This one-day trip was truly enjoyable. Not only were the locations stunning and memorable, but it also deepened our understanding of Thai culture.

And lastly, I would like to thank my dear friend, "Sadsai," for being such a great travel companion.

***We may not have been able to visit every place, but we tried our best given the time constraints. Next time, if we have the opportunity, I will try harder.

If anyone has any questions, inquiries, or feedback, please feel free to share them. I will use them to improve my work in the future.


#bangkok
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